Afan sits next to 4 phonetic neighbors — Avan, Evan, and Ewan are the closest matches by sound. Most share Afan's Welsh cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"raspberry (fruit)"
"my pride, my genius, my eminence"
"sensitive perceiver, artist of words"
"crooked nose (distinctive feature)"
"Water of life; the distilled spirit drink"
"royal advisor, kingly counselor"
"happy, blessed, fortunate"
"a magical charm or spell; also a curse"
"destruction, ruin"
"mercy of God"
"brave lion, lion-strong"
"one warrior, lone warrior"
"king, ruler"
"barley grain, of the barley field"
"Settlement near a rift or cleft in the land; from Old English rif (..."
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Afan — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Welsh origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Afan.
Rhythm: Afan is a 2-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.